Giving back with a twist: growing one of Calgary's largest corporate charitable fundraisers

In Macquarie’s Calgary office, an employee-led tradition continues to achieve new milestones in providing support to those most in need.

In October 2024, we hosted our eighth annual charity fundraiser, a Mix-Off, during Macquarie Group’s Foundation Week, a global initiative that encourages our people to support the causes they’re passionate about by organising fundraising or volunteering events. This year’s Mix-Off featured a friendly competition where three teams put their mixology skills to the test by using local ingredients to create unique beverages which were voted on by guests, consisting of energy industry partners and clients.

With nearly 400 attendees this year, the event has grown into one of Calgary's largest corporate charitable fundraisers. Since its inception in 2015, this event has raised over $C14 million for local charities, directly benefiting 21 non-profit organisations. This year, the event raised over $C2.5 million, inclusive of matching from Macquarie Group in accordance with its Non-Profit Support Policy.

Unique to Macquarie’s support is its offering of unrestricted matching dollars, providing non-profit organisations the flexibility to allocate resources where they're needed most. Unrestricted dollars enable organisations to respond to immediate needs, invest in innovation and strengthen their infrastructure — ultimately enhancing their capacity for impact.

“Macquarie’s fundraiser in Calgary exemplifies the purpose of the Foundation’s employee-led approach to giving,” said Pritha Mittal, Macquarie Group Foundation Regional Director, Americas.

Every year, the funds raised at the event support organisations that serve the wide set of community needs. I Can for Kids, the Calgary Public Library Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary join the list of local organisations this year benefiting from the donations made by individuals and corporations. 

According to I Can for Kids, over 80,000 children and youth in Calgary struggle with food insecurity. The non-profit is tackling food insecurity with an innovative, research-driven approach that prioritizes collective impact through a grocery gift card program, providing immediate support that strengthens families and fosters resilience. “The unrestricted funds from this event will enable us to alleviate the struggles many families face when it comes to affording fresh, healthy food,” said Bobbi Turko, Co-Founder and Executive Director at I Can for Kids. “This event generated the single largest amount of funds raised for us, and it will go a long way in expanding our support to reach even more kids.” 

In 2023, Dylan Johnson, Managing Director in Macquarie’s Commodities and Global Markets business, took home the trophy in support of Make-A-Wish Canada’s Southern Alberta Chapter. One year later, the organisation, which creates one-of-a-kind wishes for children with critical illnesses, has reached a new record in wishes granted thanks in part to funds raised at the 2023 Calgary Mix-Off fundraiser.

"Funding from the Macquarie Group Foundation has been essential in granting more wishes,” said Simona Lupas, Director for the Southern Alberta Chapter of Make-A-Wish. “COVID and travel restrictions previously created a backlog of wishes to grant, so these unrestricted funds from the Mix-Off are enabling us to grant more life-changing wishes than ever and expand our outreach to more isolated areas within Alberta. We are incredibly grateful to Macquarie Group for bringing our community together and raising funds for so many great causes.”

For Johnson, a board member at I Can for Kids and supporter of Make-A-Wish Canada, Macquarie’s annual fundraiser has a special meaning of connection and community. “Whether it’s families facing food insecurity or children with critical illnesses, there are many within our community less fortunate and it’s an honor to join colleagues and clients in raising money to support these worthy causes.” 

“At Macquarie, we support our people to respond to the areas of greatest need in the communities in which they live and work. Through this annual event, we see how the Calgary community comes together to do just that,” added Lisa George, Global Head of the Macquarie Group Foundation.

The Macquarie fundraiser, which started as an oyster shuck-off in 2015, briefly shifted to a beer brew-off in 2022, and is now its second year themed as a cocktail Mix-Off, continues to be a favorite amongst our people. The event empowers our staff by providing the opportunity to collaborate with clients and partners, all united by a shared goal of creating positive social change.